1. Hunter Ethics Hunter’s Ethical Code
Aldo Leopold, the “father of wildlife management,” said, “Ethical behavior is doing the right thing when no one else is watching—even when doing the wrong thing is legal.”
Most hunting organizations agree that responsible hunters do the following.

2. Hunter Ethics Respect Natural Resources
Leave land better than you found it.
Adhere to fair chase rules.
Know your capabilities and limitations as a marksman, and stay within your effective range.
Strive for quick, clean kill.

3. Hunter Ethics Ensure that meat and usable parts not wasted.
Treat both game and non-game animals ethically.
Abide by game laws and regulations.
Cooperate with conservation officers.
Report game violations.

4. Hunter Ethics Respect Other Hunters
Follow safe firearm handling practices and insist your companions do the same.
Refrain from interfering with another’s hunt.
Avoid consuming alcohol, which can impair you to point of endangering others.
Share knowledge and skills with others.

5. Hunter Ethics Respect Landowners
Ask landowners for permission to hunt.
Follow their restrictions on when and where you may hunt.
Treat livestock and crops as your own.
Offer to share part of your harvest with owner.

6. Hunter Ethics Leave all gates the way you found them.
If you notice something wrong or out of place, notify landowner immediately.
Never enter private land that is cultivated or posted, unless you have first obtained permission.

7. Hunter Ethics Respect Non-Hunters
Transport animals discreetly—don’t display them.
Keep firearms out of sight.
Refrain from taking graphic photographs of kill and from vividly describing kill within earshot of non-hunters.
Maintain presentable appearance while on the street—no bloody or dirty clothing.

8. Hunter Ethics Personal Choice
There are gray areas of ethical behavior that come down to personal choice.
Examples of gray areas are:
Baiting deer with corn or protein pellets.
Shooting birds on ground, on the water, or in trees.
Shooting from vehicle or boat within private boundaries or on private waters.

9. Hunter Ethics How to Ask Landowners for Permission
Make contact well ahead of hunting season.
Wear street clothes—no hunting gear or firearms.
Don’t bring companions— “crowd” could be intimidating.
Be polite, even if permission is denied.

10. Hunter Ethics Landowner Complaints about Hunters
Don’t get permission to hunt
Don’t tell landowners when they arrive or leave property
Make too much noise
Leave litter behind
Carry loaded firearms in vehicles

11. 6 stages of Hunter Development
SHOOTING STAGE
1) Shooting Stage
The impulse here is to get off a shot quickly, usually at the first animal that appears. This eagerness can lead to bad decisions that could result in the wrong animal being chosen, a poor shot being taken that wounds the animal or even a shot that endangers others. Target practice, good mentoring and more experience will lead most hunters out of this stage quickly.

12. 6 stages of Hunter Development
LIMITING OUT STAGE
2) Limiting Out Stage
This hunter wants to always bag the limit. This may cause a hunter to take unsafe shots or misidentify targets in the zeal to limit out. More experience and hunting with mature hunters will lead hunters out of this stage.

13. 6 stages of Hunter Development
TROPHY STAGE
3) Trophy Stage
Success is judged by quality, not quantity. The hunter is very selective and will pass on many opportunities that do not match the desired trophy characteristics. Many trophy hunters focus on big game. The hunter’s patience and commitment must be highly evolved.

14. 6 stages of Hunter Development
METHOD STAGE
4) Method Stage
Here, the process and challenge of hunting becomes the primary focus of the hunter. A more challenging method, such as using a bow, muzzleloader, or handgun may be chosen. The hunter may choose to stalk or still hunt, rather than sit in a stand next to a feeder.

15. 6 stages of Hunter Development
SPORTSMAN STAGE
5) The total experience of the hunt is what is important to the sportsman. What animal is being hunted, how it is being hunted, the immersion into nature and the companionship of who you are hunting with, all combine into creating a more sophisticated appreciation of the hunt.

16. 6 stages of Hunter Development
GIVE BACK STAGE
6) “Give-Back” Stage
At this point the hunter is motivated by the desire to pass on the proper hunting values, safety skills and responsible attitudes to others. They want to preserve our hunting heritage by introducing new hunters to the sport in the most rewarding manner. The hunter may choose to join a conservation organization that improves habitat through wildlife management and promotes hunting.

17. TAKING THE SHOT BROADSIDE The Broadside Shot
The Broadside Shot presents the largest target area to strike the heart and lungs. For the novice hunter this is the best shot to take. It is just behind the shoulder bones. Properly placed, the bullet will strike the ribs and probably pass completely through the chest cavity

18. TAKING THE SHOT QUARTERING AWAY
Quartering-Away is a shot angle where the animal’s body is angled away from you. You still have a shot at the vital areas and should aim behind the shoulder. You must be confident of your accuracy with your firearm as misplacement of the shot can result in a “gut-shot,” a shot to the stomach and intestines. Not only does the animal suffer when gut-shot but it can still travel a great distance and there is a good chance you may lose it.

19. TAKING THE SHOT QUARTERING TO YOU
Quartering-Toward is a shot angle from the front of the animal when their body is angled towards you. This angle still affords a shot to the vital area, however, there is a greater chance of hitting bones in the shoulder. Since the animal is facing you, it can easily detect any movements. Bowhunters should avoid taking this shot because of the added density of the shoulder bones that the arrow must penetrate. Also, many times the animal can see the arrow in flight.

20. TAKING THE SHOT
HEAD ON
Head-On means the animal is standing directly facing you. The vital organs can still be hit but there is a good chance the bullet will damage a good deal of meat. Depending on the velocity of the bullet, it could also pass through and hit the stomach, even continuing into one of the rear legs, ruining even more meat. Bowhunters should not take this shot.

21. TAKING THE SHOT REAR END
Rear-End is exactly that, an angle directly behind the animal. No large vital area is presented. Never take this shot with firearm or bow. Wait for a better shot or pass.

22. APPROACHING DOWNED GAME
ALWAYS APPROACH A DOWNED ANIMAL FROM THE REAR. POKE ITS HIND QUARTER WITH YOUR FIRE ARM OR ARROW TO CHECK IF IT IS STILL ALIVE. IF THE ANIMAL REMAINS ALIVE, TAKE AN ETHICAL APPROACH TO ENDING THE SUFFERING.

23. IS IT SAFE?
IS IT LEGAL?
IS IT ETHICAL?